ASCC-Chapter 96 What Kind of Familia Do You Want to Join?

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"Are there really that many types of Familia?"

"Of course! This city is full of opportunities, after all."

Seeing the young man's confusion, Misha quickly realized he must be new to Orario. Eager to help, she smiled warmly and began her explanation.

Familia, in simple terms, are groups formed by gods and mortals.

When deities descend to the lower world, they seal away their divine powers but gain the ability to grant 〈Falna〉 — a divine blessing that allows mortals to grow stronger at an accelerated rate. Adventurers and other hopefuls gather around these gods to receive their Falna, forming what's known as a Familia.

Since gods come to the mortal realm seeking entertainment, the type of Familia they create often reflects their interests. As a result, Familia can be vastly different in purpose and structure.

For example, some gods lead commercial Familia focused on trade, others manage artisan Familia that craft goods, and there are even those who run fishing Familia. There are also deities who establish entire kingdoms, using their Familia to indulge in elaborate national games.

However, the most common type of Familia in Orario is the 〈Exploration-type Familia〉.

These Familia make a living by venturing into the Dungeon, a massive labyrinth beneath the city. By slaying monsters, adventurers obtain Magic Stones and valuable materials, which they then sell for profit. The lure of wealth and glory makes exploration-type Familia the most numerous and well-known.

"Then, I guess I'll have to join an exploration-type Familia. Which one is the strongest?"

Without a shred of hesitation, Ryoji asked his next question.

His resolve was unwavering.

Even though he felt a pang of regret at the thought of leaving the blue ribbon behind, he refused to compromise on his goal. His purpose for coming to this world was clear: to become stronger. And the fastest way to grow would be to join a powerful Familia. 

Especially with his unique Blazer ability 〈Absolute Divine Speed〉, which placed immense strain on his body. Having reliable comrades would be essential.

"The strongest? That would undoubtedly be Freya Familia and Loki Familia."

Misha's voice carried a slight hesitation as she spoke, as though there was something she wasn't saying.

"However, powerful Familia like those are often full. Even when they do need new members, they typically recruit through exclusive channels, making it extremely difficult for outsiders to join."

Ryoji nodded thoughtfully. That made sense.

Freya Familia and Loki Familia were legendary, standing at the peak of Orario's hierarchy. In the original story, they played pivotal roles. It was no surprise that gaining entry into such elite Familia would be nearly impossible.

But then, a thought crossed his mind.

Freya Familia… perhaps there was a chance?

As Misha observed him, her gaze softened. This boy was undeniably striking. A part of her couldn't help but worry. Would the Goddess of Beauty claim him as her own?

"If I don't join a Familia, I won't be able to receive a Falna, right?"

"That's right."

Confirming this, Misha watched as Ryoji fell into deep thought.

〈Falna〉 could only be bestowed by a god. While it was true that the divine blessing itself was fundamentally the same from any deity, a god's Familia still greatly influenced the adventurer's growth and opportunities.

Maybe… he should consider the advice he'd received from another doctor?

With his appearance, winning over one or two goddesses shouldn't be difficult. But then again, would gods have resistance to charm? And even if he succeeded, there was no guarantee that the goddess he attracted would lead a strong Familia. No, what he truly wanted was to join a top-tier Familia.

"The Guild also occasionally receives recruitment notices from Familia looking for talented individuals. Would you like to take a look?"

Misha's voice broke through his thoughts. She pulled out a stack of documents and handed them over eagerly.

Ryoji glanced down, only to realize that the writing wasn't in Japanese.

Every word on the parchment was written in the distinct script of this world.

But he could understand them. The documents were all talent recruitment requests from various Familia, submitted to the Guild to find specific skills or abilities they needed.

So, could it be that what he heard wasn't actually Japanese? Was it being automatically translated into Japanese, while the people here were actually speaking the language of this world?

Upon closer observation, he noticed something strange — the way the people's lips moved didn't quite match the words he heard.

"Translate it into Chinese for me."

With just a thought, the surrounding voices seamlessly shifted from Japanese to Chinese. The Adventurers around him now spoke in perfectly clear, square-scripted words.

"Wow, so there's even this kind of perk."

"This isn't urgent. I'll wait a couple of days."

Ryoji handed the documents back to Misha. Most of them were from commercial Familia looking to recruit from smaller or weaker Familia. Not a single prominent Familia was listed. It made sense — powerful Familia wouldn't rely on the Guild to recruit members.

"Is there a place nearby where I can exchange money?"

"Yes, over there. You can exchange anything."

Misha pointed to the opposite side of the hall, where several closed counters displayed the words "Exchange Office."

"By the way, between the two top-tier Familia, which one would you say is better?"

Just before leaving, Ryoji turned back and posed the question.

"Eh?"

Misha blinked in surprise, caught off guard.

"That would definitely be Loki Familia; they have a great reputation."

Compared to them, Freya Familia was… well, harder to explain.

"Thanks."

"That's rude… Come visit me again sometime!"

Misha waved with a slightly disappointed smile as she watched him go. A young man like him, with such presence, was bound for a destiny far beyond the reach of an ordinary Guild receptionist. But if he continued to stop by her window, it would definitely brighten her days.

Still… Was he really aiming for one of the top-tier Familia?

At the exchange office, Ryoji took out several gleaming jewels from his backpack. After a quick appraisal, he exchanged them for a bag of gold coins, totaling over 2 million valis.

Valis was the standard currency in this world, minted in gold, silver, and copper. Its exact purchasing power was still a mystery to him.

With the pouch of coins secured, Ryoji slung his backpack over his shoulder and walked out of the Guild headquarters.

Unbeknownst to him, several figures lurking nearby exchanged dark glances and silently followed him, their expressions filled with malice.

Misha, who had been discreetly watching from afar, instantly grew worried. She rushed to the entrance, but by the time she reached the doorway, the street was already crowded, with no sign of Ryoji among the bustling figures.

"Oh no, I forgot to warn him not to exchange so much money at once!"

Misha anxiously smacked her forehead.

Who would have thought he'd pull out such a fortune in plain sight? Did he not know the basic rule of never flaunting wealth?

How had he even made it to Orario without being swindled?

Adventurers in this city often lived on the edge, and many had ruthless tendencies. Conflict and backstabbing were common. Without proper caution, it was easy to fall victim to the city's darker side.

"Hopefully, this will be a lesson for him…"

Meanwhile, Ryoji continued walking eastward along the main street.

"The top-tier Familia are already overflowing with members, so they rarely recruit rookies from outside. But… if a super rookie became famous across Orario, I wonder if even they would come calling?"

If he were to walk up to the headquarters of Freya Familia or Loki Familia now, the outcome was obvious — rejection.

But if the tables were turned, if they sought *him* out, that would be an entirely different story.

His goal was clear.

He would make a name for himself as the strongest rookie Orario had ever seen.

If he could defeat Adventurers blessed with Falna — even elite ones — without having a Falna of his own, the news would spread like wildfire. And then, those top-tier Familia would have no choice but to take notice.

"First things first, I need to make a big impression."

With a snap of his fingers, Ryoji confidently strode towards the arena on the east main street, ignoring the curious gazes of the passing crowd.

(End of Chapter)